Headaches

Topic Overview

Headaches are one of the most
common pain-related health problems in both children and adults. You may have a
headache along with another minor health problem such as a sore throat, cold,
or sinus problem.

Types of headaches

The most common types of headaches
usually are not serious but may occur again and again.

Tension headaches are the most common
type of headache and are often caused by stress and emotional strain. Most
adults have tension headaches from time to time, and everyone may have different areas of pain.

Headaches with other serious symptoms

Although rare,
a headache may be a
symptom of a serious illness. Other symptoms, such as
vomiting, dizziness, or changes in vision, may also be present. The following
serious illnesses or injuries can cause headaches.

Neurological symptoms—which may be
signs of a problem with the nervous system—can affect many body functions.
Symptoms may include:

Numbness, weakness, or lack of movement in your
face, arm, or leg, especially on only one side of your body.

Trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

Trouble speaking.

Confusion or trouble understanding simple statements.

Problems with balance or coordination (for example, falling down
or dropping things).

Seizures.

Pain in adults and older children

Severe pain (8 to 10): The pain
is so bad that you can't stand it for more than a few hours, can't sleep, and
can't do anything else except focus on the pain.

Moderate pain (5 to 7): The pain is bad enough to disrupt your
normal activities and your sleep, but you can tolerate it for hours or days.
Moderate can also mean pain that comes and goes even if it's severe when it's
there.

Mild pain (1 to 4): You notice the pain,
but it is not bad enough to disrupt your sleep or activities.

You can get dehydrated when
you lose a lot of fluids because of problems like vomiting or fever.

Symptoms of dehydration can range from mild to severe. For
example:

You may feel tired and edgy (mild dehydration), or
you may feel weak, not alert, and not able to think clearly (severe
dehydration).

You may pass less urine than usual (mild
dehydration), or you may not be passing urine at all (severe
dehydration).

Many prescription and nonprescription medicines and
supplements can cause headaches. A few examples are:

Medicines that contain hormones, such as birth
control pills and hormone therapy for menopause.

Medicines for
erection problems.

Caffeine (because of caffeine
withdrawal).

Some heart and blood pressure
medicines.

Vitamins.

Severe dehydration means:

Your mouth and eyes may be extremely
dry.

You may pass little or no urine for 12 or more
hours.

You may not feel alert or be able to think
clearly.

You may be too weak or dizzy to stand.

You may
pass out.

Moderate dehydration means:

You may be a lot more thirsty than
usual.

Your mouth and eyes may be drier than usual.

You may
pass little or no urine for 8 or more hours.

You may feel dizzy
when you stand or sit up.

Mild dehydration means:

You may be more thirsty than usual.

You may pass less urine than usual.

Symptoms of serious illness may
include:

A severe headache.

A stiff
neck.

Mental changes, such as feeling confused or much less
alert.

Extreme fatigue (to the point where it's hard for you to
function).

Shaking chills.

Here are some examples of possible changes in your usual pattern of headaches:

Headaches are worse than usual.

You get
headaches more often.

The pain is in a different
area.

The pain feels different.

The medicines you
usually take for headaches no longer seem to work.

Seek Care Now

Based on your answers, you may need care right away. The problem is likely to get worse without medical care.

Call your doctor now to discuss the symptoms and
arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't have
one, seek care in the next hour.

You do not need to call an
ambulance unless:

You cannot travel safely either by driving
yourself or by having someone else drive you.

You are in an area
where heavy traffic or other problems may slow you down.

Seek Care Today

Based on your answers, you may need care soon. The
problem probably will not get better without medical care.

Call your doctor today to discuss the symptoms
and arrange for care.

If you cannot reach your doctor or you don't
have one, seek care today.

Call 911 Now

Based on your answers, you need
emergency care.

Call911or other emergency services now.

Pregnancy-Related Problems

Head Injury, Age 4 and Older

Head Injury, Age 3 and Younger

Home Treatment

Most of the time headaches get
better or go away with home treatment and do not require a visit to a doctor.
Home treatment for headaches can often help reduce the severity of pain and the
length of time the pain is present. Home treatment may also relieve other
symptoms, such as fever, nausea or vomiting, anxiety, or muscle aches. Start
home treatment as soon as you can. Be sure to review the home treatment
information for any other symptoms you may have.

If your doctor has
prescribed a specific treatment for your headaches, begin treatment as soon as
a headache starts. Be sure to follow his or her instructions when taking any
prescription medicine for your headache.

Aspirin (also a nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drug), such as Bayer or Ecotrin

Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and
forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. When you switch between two
medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine.

Safety tips

Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:

Carefully read and follow all directions
on the medicine bottle and box.

Talk to your child's doctor before switching back and
forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen to treat a fever. When you
switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much
medicine.

Safety tips for children

Be sure to follow these
safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine:

Carefully read and follow all labels on
the medicine bottle and box.

Give, but do not exceed, the maximum
recommended doses.

Do not give your child a medicine if he or she
has had an
allergic reaction to it in the past.

Exercise regularly. Walking, cycling,
jogging, swimming, or even dancing or gardening are great ways to relieve
stress. If you tend to hold tension in your neck and shoulders, walking may be
especially helpful. The swinging motion of the arms seems to relax those
muscles.

Try
massage, which can reduce muscle tension, especially in
your neck and shoulder muscles. Muscle tension can cause headaches or make them
worse.

Practice good posture and body mechanics at home
and at work:

Sit straight in your chair with your lower
back supported. If you sit most of the day, take breaks once an hour to stretch
your neck muscles. There are some specific neck exercises you can do during your
breaks.

If you work at a computer, adjust
your monitor so that the top of the screen is at eye level. Use a document
holder to keep the copy at the same level as the screen.

If you
frequently use the telephone, consider a headset or speakerphone. Do not cradle
the handset between your shoulder and your ear.

Have frequent dental checkups and yearly eye
examinations.

Headaches can often be prevented by avoiding things that may
cause, or "trigger," the pain. Although these triggers may be
different for different people, generally avoid:

Alcohol and caffeine (coffee, tea, or soda
pop).

Sudden caffeine withdrawal.

Foods, such as very
salty foods or foods that contain the preservative MSG.

Preparing For Your Appointment

Questions to prepare for your appointment

You can help your
doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the
following questions. When you go to your appointment, be sure to bring your
headache diary(What is a PDF document?).

What medicines do you take, either weekly or
monthly, depending on the severity of your headaches? What is your response to
the medicine? Make a list to help you remember your medicines and your
response.

For a headache that started suddenly (acute):

When did the headache start?

What
were you doing when the headache started?

For ongoing headaches (chronic):

When did your headache problems
start?

How often do you have headaches?

How long do
your headaches usually last?

Where is your headache pain
located?

Describe your headache pain (stabbing, throbbing, dull,
sharp), and how you would
rate the pain?

How do your headaches
usually begin or evolve?

Do you have other symptoms with your
headaches?

Are your headaches related to your menstrual
cycle?

What do you think causes your headaches?

What
home treatments have you tried, and how well did they work?

What
prescription medicines have you been given? Did they work?

What
prescription or nonprescription medicines do you take?

Are you
using an alternative or complementary medicine or treatment (including herbal
remedies)?

Have you recently had a dental procedure, such as a
filling or a root canal?

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